Israel Approves 3,400 New Settler Homes in Occupied West Bank
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Salma Hossein
- . March 7, 2024
- . Update: March 7, 2024 5:55 pm
The Israeli government has moved forward with plans to build over 3,400 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank area. This is a big increase in Israel’s efforts to expand its settlements in the Palestinian territories.
The Controversial Settlements
Around 2,450 of the new homes, which is about 70%, will be built in the large Maale Adumim settlement, located east of Jerusalem. The rest will be constructed in the nearby Kedar and Efrat settlements, south of Bethlehem.
Israeli officials say they are building these new homes in response to a recent attack by Palestinian gunmen near Maale Adumim, where one Israeli was killed and several others were hurt.
Condemnation from Palestinians and Peace Groups
The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, has strongly criticized Israel’s plans. They say the settlements are “invalid and illegitimate” and accuse Israel of fueling more violence and conflict. Palestinian leaders argue the settlements make it impossible to achieve a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Israeli anti-settlement groups like Peace Now have also condemned the move, warning it destroys any chance for real peace and security.
International Law and the Settlement Issue
Most countries around the world consider Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal under international law. Israel occupied and took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war.
Since then, Israel has built around 160 settlements housing about 700,000 Jewish settlers in these areas that the Palestinians want for a future state. While most nations see the settlements as violating international law, Israel disagrees with this view.
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US Policy Shift
The decision by Israel’s government to expand settlements has also drawn criticism from the United States. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was disappointed with the plans. He stated that the US believes settlements are against international law and harmful to achieving lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Blinken’s remarks reverse the position of the previous US administration under President Donald Trump, which had said settlements are not illegal.
Escalating Violence and Tensions
Israel’s approval of new settlement construction comes at a time of increasing violence and tensions in the West Bank. According to the United Nations, at least 413 Palestinians, including fighters, attackers, and civilians, have been killed in conflict in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Israel since October 2022.
Over the same period, 15 Israelis, including 4 security officers, have also died in the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
